The curtains have fallen on Gamathon 25, Africa’s premier game and immersive media convention, which concluded in Lagos after a week of creative showcases, industry panels, and an intense pitch competition that celebrated the best of African innovation in game development.

Organised by Africacomicade, the 2025 edition of Gamathon ran from September 29 to October 4, bringing together hundreds of developers, investors, publishers, and technology enthusiasts from across the continent. The convention, which had earlier toured Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa, served as a platform to promote collaboration and investment in Africa’s growing digital entertainment ecosystem.

A key highlight of the event was the Ark Pitch 2025 competition, where top African studios competed for funding and recognition. In total, over $42,000 was awarded — including $2,000 in cash prizes and $40,000 in development support for Android game creators.

In the PC category, EMedia Interactive emerged as the overall winner, followed by Four Old Men and Mykiyi Entertainment. On the mobile front, Veh Veh Studios claimed first place, while Dash Studios and Root Stones secured second and third positions respectively.

Adding to the excitement, Fer Factor, a Nigerian studio, landed a publishing deal with Acclaim Inc. for its upcoming title TossDown, signalling new opportunities for African creators to access international markets.

Beyond the awards, Gamathon 25 also provided a platform for honest discussions about the realities of game development in Africa. Speakers and industry experts pointed to major challenges facing local developers — from limited funding opportunities to the high difficulty of shipping fully developed games.

Feranmi Oladosu of Fer Factor summed it up, saying: “Ninety-five percent of African game developers won’t ship a proper game — not because they lack talent, but because it’s genuinely hard.”

Other sessions explored the rise of mobile and PC gaming, and the growing curiosity around extended reality (XR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies. While developers showed enthusiasm for immersive innovation, many agreed that infrastructure, accessibility, and monetisation remain barriers to large-scale adoption.

Discussions also touched on the value of physical versus virtual participation. While online sessions widened access across Africa, in-person networking in Lagos allowed for deeper connections and more organic collaborations among creators and investors.

As the event wrapped up, Africacomicade announced that Gamathon will now run biennially, allowing more time for developers to polish their projects between editions. Complementary initiatives such as the eAfrica Challenge and SPARK Fellowship will continue year-round to nurture emerging talent and strengthen industry capacity.

Co-founder Oluwatosin Ogunyebi described the Lagos edition as “the final stop in this year’s tour,” emphasising that the mission remains to connect African countries through creativity and technology.